Pukekohe Win No.2 - Bossy by Name & By Nature

The winning roll continued for trainer Jamie Richards on 23 February at Pukekohe, when A Little Bit Bossy (3 f Rock ‘n' Pop - Molly Coco, by Savabeel) won the $15,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 3YO Fillies 1400 metres (eligible $11,500 bonus).

After winning three races last Sunday at Hastings, and having Midnight Special (Excelebration) scoring earlier on the programme, A Little Bit Bossy warranted plenty of respect.

Solid through the trials' stage, and resilient finishing third when debuting in a Maiden 1200 metres on 30 January at Ellerslie, she utilised barrier two to trail before travelling outside the leader and had too much up her sleeve for race favourite and second placed Eyesonlyonme (Free Eagle).

On Good3 footing, A Little Bit Bossy ran 1400 metres in polished 1:22.7 and paid $5.00 & $1.80 on NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win by a progressive filly and it's great to train a winner for Karyn (Fenton-Ellis),” Richards said. “She's been slower to mature both physically and mentally and we have had a fair bit of trouble with her temperament. But she seems to be going along well now.

“She's up at the Main Stable and everyone that rides her has done a good job, because she hasn't been the most straightforward of horses to have around.

“She ran really well first-up when given a lovely ride by (stable apprentice) Parmar, but senior rider (Opie Bosson) was on today. From a good gate (2), he had her in the trail before pushing off the fence when he wanted to and it was a pretty easy watch as things went to plan.

“The second horse (Eyesonlyonme) looks pretty good and has a reputation, so the form from the race should stack up nicely.

Bred and owned by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, A Little Bit Bossy is the fourth individual winner from Molly Coco, including seven time winner Big Regards (Darci Brahma). Molly Coco is a daughter of Dower (Pins), Second Top Filly on 2004-05 NZ Free Handicaps, and sister to triple stakes' winner and Group 1 placed Dowager Queen.

“I'm so excited and it's a real thrill when it's a young horse you've bred and we have raised at Te Akau Stud,” said Fenton-Ellis. “We keep a handful of home bred horses if they're not going to the sales and try to syndicate the best of them, but we didn't think she was the best of them in her year.

“She's named after my granddaughter, Lucia-Rose. Standing in our kitchen at the farm one day, when she was two and in the highchair, and I said to Julia-Rose, ‘she's bossy, that girl'. This tiny voice, from a tot who I thought was out of earshot, piped and said ‘I'm NOT bossy', which gave name to another filly we race by Jimmy Choux.  Lucia-Rose was however happy to settle for being called 'a little bit bossy' so that's how the filly's named.

“It gives you great joy, like (stakes' winners) Belle En Rouge and Maven Belle, being involved in breeding them. This girl, I bred myself and while it's her Maiden win, it's still a wonderfully exciting experience.

“And, it was a Pearl Series race. I thought I'd enrol her in that because we support the Pearl Series - it's a great series and it's very exciting to collect the bonus ($11,500).

“Also, thanks to Opie Bosson. What can you say? The best in the business, whether he's riding our Group 1 winners or Maiden winners midweek at Pukekohe.

“I asked David (husband) to select a mare for me at the Mixed Bloodstock Sale about 10 years ago. He found Molly Coco, an unraced Savabeel mare with a good pedigree. I remember I was working on Trackside at the time of the sale and was on a short break when she came in to the ring so I watched her go under the hammer on line. I had told David what my budget was and I was disappointed when she went for a bit more than my budget.  I had obviously missed out and I remember texting David asking who bought her - he replied "you did"!

"I think we'll have some fun with this filly and Jamie likes her. Mark (Walker) had seen her too at the track and told me she'd worked up well, so it was a great result.  I am particularly grateful to the team that looks after her, Tracy and the Main Barn crew (Tracy also strapped her today).  Like her name suggests, she isn't the easiest to deal with but we have the best team and I cannot thank them enough for all they do for us and all our owners.

A Little Bit Bossy was strapped by Tracy Collis.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz